"Do not wait nor listen to others negativity." - Joanne Victoria Tweet This!Contributing Author: Stacie Walker
Today's interview and featured success story for October is Joanne Victoria of Gemma and Bixley.
Joanne Victoria is a co-founder of Gemma and Bixley and a Life Coach and Business Intuitive Consultant, has been a business practitioner for 30+ years as a Real Estate Broker/Owner, CFO of an investment company, CFO and Sales & Marketing Director of a home-building company and CEO of her former business, New Directions.
Joanne provides insights into “big picture” outcomes for clients and offers action steps essential to make dreams come alive.
Joanne shares valuable content on the Gemma and Bixley blog. Every single one of her posts contain a wealth of information to inspire you to build a strong business with a twist of motivation.
In 2011, Joanne was featured as a Woman in Leadership Success Story. It's such an honor to be able to follow up with Joanne and witness how her business has evolved over this span of time. It's also exciting to find out what personal victories and changes she went through since her last featured story.
I discovered Joanne through LinkedIn. I was basically surfing my list of connections and there she was! Her style of writing is what kept me on her site for a long time. I knew from that point on that I was determined to connect with her and build a healthy relationship.
Today, I'm happy to say that she is an inspiration to me and that she has become a friend.
Ready to learn more about Joanne? Of course you are:) It's time for you to dig in and read about my recent interview with Joanne. Let's get started!
Exclusive Interview with Joanne Victoria of Gemma and Bixley
Stacie: Welcome, Joanne! It is an honor to have you as our featured success story. Please tell us about yourself and your journey as an entrepreneur.
Joanne: My start as an entrepreneur was out of need. I no longer wanted to be told what to do by anyone and wanted to make income that was not determined by someone else.
My first venture into entrepreneurship was as real estate sales person.
There were blocks along the way. The real estate market was in a slump; no one would hire me; however, I needed to feed and shelter my children. I never gave up.
I was referred to someone who managed a branch office of an international firm. The area manager did not want to hire me; the branch manager knew I would work hard because I was ‘hungry’. He helped me a great deal.
Within my first year of real estate, even though there was a recession, I reached my goal.
Stacie: What are your thoughts on self acceptance being essential for achievement with our personal and business life?Joanne: Without self-acceptance as well as self-respect, you are lost in the multitude of other entrepreneurs, as well as your own business.
Stacie: What are the important steps to developing our leadership as women?
Joanne: Belief in one’s self; elimination of thoughts that support the ‘only men can be leaders’ line of thinking; and a mentor to help you along your leadership path
Stacie:
What did you do before launching Gemma & Bixley?
Joanne: Before Gemma & Bixley, which is a parent of New Directions (my formerly named business) I was presenting personal development workshops; prior to that I was a real estate broker in California with my own office.
Stacie:
What’s the biggest thing you struggle with as an entrepreneur?
Joanne: Being alone, without others to bounce off ideas with. Although, being alone is what most entrepreneurs do, as they need the time to be creative.
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Stacie: Who was your inspiration growing up and who is your inspiration now?
Joanne: Mostly spiritual teachers inspire me. I admire people like Richard Branson, owner of Virgin everything! He is doing what he loves, helps others, makes money and appears to be happy. As for spiritual teachers, there are many including the Dalai Lama.
Stacie: What has been your most effective marketing tactic or technique?
Joanne: My most effective marketing technique is to be persistent and consistent in whatever approach I take.
Stacie:
What three pieces of advice would you offer entrepreneurs starting out today?
Joanne:
1. Have a plan.
2. Hire a coach, first!
3. Have a team or at least include a team in your plan.
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Everyone defines success in their own way. What does success mean to you?
Joanne: Success to me means peace, the ability to choose what I want to do, when I want to do it, and unending passive income.
Stacie: What is your best advice for women?
Joanne: Forget you are a woman in the business world; remember you are a spiritual being in the form of a woman on this planet. Women in business are different and we should realize this as an important attribute.
Stacie: What advice would you give to women taking the leap to go after their entrepreneurial dreams?
Joanne: Plan a little, not too much; get together a great team including an attorney and accountant, be clear about your people, process and product, and give it a go. Do not wait nor listen to others negativity.
Stacie: If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Joanne: Create a great team from the start; have more investment/capital funds.
Stacie: What have your learned from your personal failures and business fail?
Joanne: Regroup; nothing is really a failure. It is all about learning who you are and your limits.
Stacie: How do you generate new ideas?
Joanne: I meditate, I read, and stay quiet and wait for inspiration.
Stacie: What sacrifices have you made to reach your current level of success as an entrepreneur?
Joanne: Too many to even count. Although, what appeared as sacrifices may have just been the steps I needed to take to get where I am now.
Stacie: Joanne, you are AWESOME! You are truly an inspiration and a fine example for us ladies out in the world.
Thank you for taking the time to share your inspiring journey with the Woman in Leadership community.
The next time I feature you, we have to produce an episode together. I would love to have you as a special guest on the Woman in Leadership Success online radio show.
Joanne enjoys connecting with like-minded individuals every single day, so feel free to connect with her at the follow social media platforms:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/JoanneVictoria Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JoanneVictoria LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/joannevictoria Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/joannevictoria/ Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/GemmaBixleyImage Credits:
About the Contributing Author and Company Founder:
Stacie Walker is the founder of Woman in Leadership. Stacie adores working with professional leaders and entrepreneurs in the small business, home business, and online business industries.
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